The Alfred Beit Foundation is back in the black after recording a profit of €5.4m in 2015 on the back of two sales of its six ‘Old Masters’ paintings.

THE decision by the Alfred Beit Foundation, which runs Russborough House in Wicklow, to sell paintings by Rubens and other old masters to raise funds to maintain the house is not the first time such a crossroads has been reached.

Almost €20m is to be spent this year on the upkeep of some of the country's most historic buildings, it was revealed today.